A data storage tape cartridge including a housing, first and second tape reels, a storage tape, first and second corner guides and an idler wrap guide. The housing defines a head access window. The tape reels are rotatably disposed within the housing, with the storage tape extending between the tape reels. The first and second comer guides are disposed within the housing at opposite sides of the head access window. Finally, the idler wrap guide is disposed within the housing and defines a tape path extending from the first tape reel to the idler wrap guide, and from the idler wrap guide to the first corner guide. The idler wrap guide is configured to frictionally dampen lateral movement of the storage tape upon rotation of the tape reels to greatly reduce servo off track events.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A data storage tape cartridge comprising: a housing defining a head access window; first and second tape reels rotatably disposed within the housing; a storage tape extending between the first and second tape reels; first and second comer guides disposed within the housing at opposite sides of the head access window, respectively, for guiding the storage tape across the head access window; and a first idler wrap guide disposed within the housing having an entrance curvature and a lateral drag curvature, the entrance curvature having a diameter greater than a diameter of the lateral drag curvature, the first idler wrap guide defining a tape path of the storage tape extending from the first tape reel to the entrance curvature from the entrance curvature to the lateral drag curvature and from the lateral drag curvature to the first comer guide; wherein the first idler wrap guide is configured to frictionally dampen lateral movement of the storage tape upon rotation of the tape reels.
2. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising: a second idler wrap guide disposed within the housing having an entrance curvature and a lateral drag curvature, the entrance curvature having a diameter greater than a diameter of the lateral drag curvature, wherein the second idler wrap guide firer defines the tape path to extend from the second comer guide to the lateral drag curvature, from the lateral drag curvature to the entrance curvature, and from the entrance curvature to the second tape reel, the second idler wrap guide being configured to frictionally dampen lateral movement of the storage tape upon rotation of the tape reels.
3. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first idler wrap guide is a cylindrical pin having a diameter in the range of 3.8-19 mm.
4. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 3 , wherein the pin has a diameter of approximately 6.35 mm.
5. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first idler wrap guide is a pin, at least a portion of the pin being bowed.
6. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first idler wrap guide is a roller.
7. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first idler wrap guide provides a tape drag surface configured to frictionally engage the storage tape at storage tape speeds of at least approximately 1.5 meters per second.
8. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 7 , wherein the tape drag surface is configured to not frictionally engage the storage tape at storage tape speeds of at least approximately 5 meters per second.
9. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first roller wrap guide is a pin.
10. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 9 , wherein the pin is configured such that at high tape speeds, the storage tape frictionally engages substantially only the entrance curvature.
11. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the entrance curvature has a diameter in the range of 12.5-38 mm and the lateral drag curvature has a diameter in the range of 2.5-12.5 mm.
12. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 11 , wherein the entrance curvature has a diameter of approximately 25.4 mm and the lateral drag curvature has a diameter of approximately 6.35 mm.
13. A data storage tape cartridge comprising: a housing defining a head access window; first and second tape reels rotatably disposed within the housing; a storage tape extending between the first and second tape reels along a tape path; first and second comer guides disposed within the housing for directing the tape path across the head access window; and a first idler wrap guide disposed within the housing along the tape path between the first tape reel and the first comer guide, the first idler wrap guide having an entrance curvature and a lateral drag curvature, the entrance curvature having a diameter greater than a diameter of the lateral drag curvature and being positioned to direct the storage tape through a wrap angle of at least 30 , whereby the first idler wrap guide frictionally dampens lateral movement of the storage tape upon rotation of the tape reels.
14. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 13 , further comprising: a second idler wrap guide disposed within the housing along the tape path between the second comer guide and the second tape reel, the second idler wrap guide having an entrance curvature and a lateral drag curvature, the entrance curvature having a diameter greater than a diameter of the lateral drag curvature and being positioned to direct the storage tape through a wrap angle of at least 30 , whereby the second idler wrap guide frictionally dampens lateral movement of the storage tape upon rotation of the tape reels.
15. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 13 , wherein the first idler wrap guide is a cylindrical pin having a diameter in the range of 3.8-19 mm.
16. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 15 , wherein the pin has a diameter of approximately 6.35 mm.
17. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 13 , wherein the first idler wrap guide is a pin, at least a portion of the pin being bowed.
18. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 13 , wherein the first idler wrap guide is a roller.
19. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 13 , wherein the first idler wrap guide provides a lateral drag surface configured to frictionally engage the storage tape at storage tape speeds of at least approximately 1.5 meters per second.
20. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 19 , wherein the tape drag surface is configured to not frictionally engage the storage tape at storage tape speeds of at least approximately 5 meters per second.
21. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 13 , wherein the first idler wrap guide is a pin.
22. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 21 , wherein the pin is oriented such that the storage tape extends from the first tape reel to the entrance curvature.
23. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 13 , wherein the entrance curvature has a diameter in the range of 12.5-38 mm and the lateral drag curvature has a diameter in the range of 2.5-12.5 mm.
24. The data storage tape cartridge of claim 23 , wherein the entrance curvature has a diameter of approximately 25.4 mm and the lateral drag curvature has a diameter of approximately 6.35 mm.
25. A method of using a data storage tape cartridge and tape drive, the method including: engaging the data storage tape cartridge within the tape drive, wherein the data storage tape cartridge includes a housing, at least one tape reel rotatably disposed within the housing and a storage tape wound about and extending from the at least one tape reel, and further wherein the tape drive includes a read/write head; articulating the storage tape through a tape path such that the storage tape engages the read/write head, the tape path being defined in part by an idler wrap guide having an entrance curvature and a lateral drag curvature, the entrance curvature having a diameter greater than a diameter of the lateral drag curvature and; and driving the storage tape along the read/write head, wherein the storage tape is driven at different tape speeds for a start-up acceleration mode, a data transfer mode and a search mode; wherein the idler wrap guide frictionally dampens lateral movement of the storage tape during at least the data transfer mode.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the data storage tape cartridge includes a single tape reel.
27. The method of claim 25 , wherein the data storage tape cartridge includes at least two tape reels.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the idler wrap guide is disposed within the housing of the data storage tape cartridge.
29. The method of claim 25 , wherein the tape speed of the data transfer mode is in the range of 1-4.5 meters per second.
30. The method of claim 26 , wherein the idler wrap guide includes a tape drag surface for frictionally engaging the storage tape during the data transfer mode, and further wherein a lateral drag surface does not frictionally engage the storage tape during the search mode.
31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the tape speed of the search mode is greater than approximately 5 meters per second.
32. A tape path for a storage tape of a data storage tape cartridge engaged by a tape drive including a read/write head, wherein the storage tape is driven transversely along the read/write head during use, the tape path being defined in part by an idler wrap guide having an entrance curvature and a lateral drag curvature, the entrance curvature having a diameter greater than a diameter of the lateral drag curvature and configured to frictionally dampen lateral movement of the storage tape during use.
33. The tape path of claim 32 , wherein the idler wrap guide is located within the tape drive.
34. The tape path of claim 32 , wherein the idler wrap guide is located within the data storage tape cartridge.
35. The tape path of claim 32 , wherein the idler wrap guide directs the storage tape through a wrap angle of at least 30 .
36. The tape path of claim 32 , wherein the idler wrap guide is a pin.
37. The tape path of claim 32 , wherein the idler wrap guide is a roller.
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February 15, 2000
June 18, 2002
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